This replica of the Wright brothers’ 1902 glider demonstrates one of the important innovations the brothers contributed toward powered heavier-than-air flight. To control an aircraft in roll, the Wright brothers developed Keep reading
Month: March 2025
Stirring Up
When a viscoelastic non-Newtonian fluid is stirred, it climbs up the stirring rod. This behavior is known as the Weissenberg effect and results from the polymers in the fluid getting Keep reading
Brazuca
Since 2006, Adidas has unveiled a new football design for each FIFA World Cup. This year’s ball, the Brazuca, is the first 6-panel ball and features glued panels instead of Keep reading
Going Supercritical
Supercritical fluids exist at temperatures and pressures above the critical point, in a region of the phase diagram where there is no clear boundary between the liquid and gaseous state. Keep reading
Mach Diamonds
Rocket engines often feature a distinctive pattern of diamonds in their exhaust. These shock diamonds, also known as Mach diamonds, are formed as result of a pressure imbalance between the Keep reading
The Upside-Down Jellyfish
The upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea, rests its bell against the ocean floor and points its frilly oral arms up toward the sun for the benefit of the symbiotic algae living on Keep reading
Wave Tank
A new wave tank facility opening at the University of Edinburgh promises new capabilities to simulate ocean wave behavior. The circular 25m diameter wave tank is lined with 168 wave Keep reading
The Atmospheric River
Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow corridors of concentrated water vapor transport in the atmosphere. They often occur when winds from storms over the ocean draw moisture together and project it Keep reading
Granular Jets
Object impacts in water and other fluids often create cavities that generate jets when they collapse. But impacts on granular materials can produce similar results, forming a cavity, a splash Keep reading
Tear Films
The human eye has a thin tear film over its surface to maintain moisture and provide a smooth optical surface. The film consists of multiple layers: a lipid layer at Keep reading